Shibley appears before state committee for UAS

A sense of underlying tension filled the room Tuesday during a meeting of the state Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace in Sacramento as two competing groups addressed the matter of securing a test site for unmanned aircraft systems.

SACRAMENTO — A sense of underlying tension filled the room Tuesday during a meeting of the state Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace in Sacramento as two competing groups addressed the matter of securing a test site for unmanned aircraft systems.

Eileen Shibley, representing the Cal UAS Portal based out of Inyokern Airport, and Bill Buratto of the Ventura Economic Development Association both presented their cases to the committee.

In the process, Buratto sounded off his frustration regarding the lack of state attention the UAS matter since it began circulating last year.

"Where were you when we were trying to get a letter out of the governor's office to try and support this," he said. "We did what we could to get Sacramento to pay attention and we got none until March 19, 2013."

The underlying factor of the meeting was that California was fractured at different levels regarding UAS test sites.

Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R – Bakersfield) reinforced the issue that California stands a better chance than the 36 other states to secure a test site given its vast resources, but states like Texas and Ohio stand united behind a test site.

"I see us divided," Grove said, pointing out two local governmental entities were applying separately for a test site.

Cal UAS and Ventura are both vying for one of six test and research sites.

Grove pressed the advantages Cal UAS Portal offered, including the political and bipartisan area it covered including the districts of two powerful members of Congress – House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Buck McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Grove's district includes areas around China Lake NAWS, Inyokern and Ridgecrest.

She also pointed out IYK had a memo of understanding with China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station and had access to required restricted airspace between China Lake and Point Mugu.

Buratto responded defensively that it was not about terms of air space or politics, but how best to implement the test site, pointing out if either group secured a test site, it would have access to the test range area that encompasses Ventura.

"The military cannot and will not commit until the six test sites have been awarded," he said. He pointed out after the agreement had been secured, at least the Navy was willing to commit to making the viability happen.

He followed up by saying the Ventura group was initially willing to work with Cal UAS and other partners, including Mojave Space Airport, prior to a disagreement over a contract on Feb. 27, but felt a first agreement was unfair.

"It was essentially a prime-subcontractor agreement and not a joint powers agreement or venture," Buratto said. He said while Shibley had said the initial agreement was not what she had asked for from the team's lawyer, Ventura said its best interest was to move forward independently.

Page 2 of 2 - Shibley did not respond directly to the comment, but both she and Buratto recognized the time crunch all parties were under given the FAA's sudden release of the information request and had to move forward in the best way they thought possible.

"We looked across at all team members that might have a stake in the proposal," Shibley said. "Right before the deadline we were notified by two groups – one in San Diego County and one in Imperial County – that they wanted to join our consortium."

Assemblyman Jeff Gorrel (R- Camarillo), whose district includes Ventura County, asked Buratto what resources a county could furnish as a partner compared to an airport district. Buratto responded that having the eight-largest county with a population of 850,000 and a $1.8 billion budget.

Shibley offered the largest issue discussed was airspace and the diversity that could be offered in terms of climate and geography, something the Cal UAS Portal could possibly offer.

In closing the meeting, Al Muratsuchi (D – Torance) said Gov. Jerry Brown's Office of Economic and Business Development would take an interest and members would meet with both teams.